Sunday, 6 February 2011

As feared

The aftermath of Thursday's gale, as we'd feared. The wind had whipped the heavy netting up and away from the metal pegs anchoring it to the soil, and deposited it neatly along two sides of the cage. We were surprised that any of the cage was left upright. For a minute or two we contemplated taking the whole thing down and leaving the struggling broccoli and kale to their fate. The pigeons had already been right in there.

The ground was so soft that we didn't think the uprights would last long. On the basis that the old ones are the best, we pressed the climbing frame into service. It's been overwintering beside the shed, and we'd planned to dismantle it.

I don't quite know what it reminds me of. A hovercraft? The Apollo command module?

The joys of gardening. Last summer was so cool here that sunflowers finally bloomed in late August and were over in three weeks. Tomatoes didn't begin to ripen until August either. This winter we're having a long period of balmy weather. Can't seem to predict anything anymore. Hopefully your calm, sunny weather will arrive soon.

The pigeons haven't stripped the plants completely. I'm sure once spring arrives then the broccoli and kale will put on lots of new growth and will romp away. Hope the climbing frame works better than the cage did.